Ring lock cutter chain structure



Nov. 16, 1948. c. J. FORBES 2,453,898

RING LOCK, CUTTER C-HAIN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 21, 1946 I I l 1111111111111 INVENToR. n, ('/fnf JT F0555,

Patented Nov. i6, i948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a chain structure and more particularly to a cutting chain chiefly utilized in the cutting of coal.

Chains of this general type are subjected to stresses and strains not common to conventional chains and therefore are subjected to breakage.

The chief feature of the invention is the pivot l or connecting pin, the head supporting same and the pin lock associated with both.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a chain structure and more particularly of a straddle type lug with the adjacent ends of adjacent links, the cutter and cutter head supporting portion of the lug being broken away since it may be of any conventional form.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the pin locking peripherally serrated or toothed disc.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the pins.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l and in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawings, IEB indicates connecting links having at opposite ends bores Il therethrough that accommodate barrel or cylindrical portion I3 of the pin, see Fig. 4. These ends are pivotally connected by the pins to a straddle type lug having side plates I4 and I5,see Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, same being suitably connected together at the top by bridging portion IB from which extends upwardly, and if desired angularly, head portion l'I only the lower portion thereof being shown, which in turn suitably supports a suitable cutter not shown. The plates and links may be suitably ribbed as illustrated.

Herein plate Id is provided with parallel bores I8 having parallel iiat faces I9, coaxial with counterbore 2B, see Figs. l and 5. Extending through this side plate I4 and in partial registration with counterbores 20 are the passages 2| parallel to bores I 8 and radially offset therefrom.

The opposite plate I5 is provided with cylindrical bodes 22 coaxial with bores I8.

Referring to Fig. 4 the cylindrical pin I3 is shown provided with two parallel flat faces 23 which extend inwardly and terminate at the peripheral groove 24. When the pin is seated in the aligned bores of the two plates the -groove 24 is substantially in the plane of the counterbore 2li or registers therewith.

Referring to Fig. 3 there is therein illustrated a peripherally serrated series of radially projecting teeth 26. This disc 25 has hole 21 therethrough with fiat sides 28 spaced apart just slightly greater than the depth diameter of groove 2t. The thickness of the disc is approximately or slightly less than that of the depth of the counterbore 2D. The outside effective diameter of the disc is slightly less than the diameter of the counterbore 20.

The aforesaid structure is assembled as follows:

The disc is seated in counterbore 20 with faces 28 aligned with faces I9. The adjacent link end is straddled by the lug and the aperture II in the link is registered with the bore 22. The shouldered end of the pin is applied through that bore and disc hole 21 and then the shouldered end is seated in bore I8.

When the parts are thus positioned the link is pivotally connected to the lug, the pin is nonrotatively carried by the lug and the disc is trapped in the counterbore- IIhe means for preventing axial withdrawal -of the pin comprises the disc and the means for preventing disc return to release position comprises one of the teeth thereon.

Following assembly as stated, a tool is inserted into hole 2l and the disc rotated thereby until the portions 28a partially or completely seat in pin groove 24. When so located axial movement of the pin is prevented. Following such location a tool which may be of nut pick type is applied to the tooth 2S fully exposed by hole 2l and drawn into the hole and positioned against the wall thereof, see Fig. l, and compare'the dotted initial and full line locking positions thereof.

Since there is no rotational force exerted upon the disc in normal operation of the chain, for the pin is rigid with the lug, there is little or no force exerted upon the bent locking tooth 26 to shear it from the disc. This also permits the use of a soft ductile metal for disc 25 such as copper, brass or the like.

To release the locks of which there are two, a tool is applied to hole 2| to align the bent tooth into coplaner relation with its supporting disc.

3 Then the disc is rotated until faces 28 align with faces I9 of bore I8 and faces 23 of pin I3. Thereupon the pin can be axially withdrawn and thereby link-lug separation effected.

Obviously, even if one or more teeth 26 in this locking and release operation are broken off the disc will still be effective for use for an extended number of assembling and disassembling operations. Obviously in the specific form of the invention 'herein illustrated, the disc can be inverted and also it can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise. If for example thirty teeth are provided in the disc, each tooth requires twelve degrees of central angle. Approximately Vone hundred and twenty degrees are included when the flat faces register. This leaves approximately 240 or 20 teeth so that at least yl5 to V18 of said teeth are available for locking, so that even if a tooth broke in each assembly-disassembly operation, the same disc could be used for at least Vfifteen such operations before a new disc were required.

Whenever desired the locking ring may include but one flat face 28, the pin hole I3 inthe plate I4 may include but one flat face I9 and the pin I3 may include but one at face 23. In this case the pins and the locking rings are not interchangeably positionable in either of two positions 110 apart but have a predetermined position as will be obvious.

While the invention has been illustrated and described ingreat detail in the ldrawings and foregoing description., the same is to be considered 'as illustrative vand not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein, as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all arecon- `sidered to'bewithin the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed'is:

1. In a chain structure for coal cutting chains andthe like having lugs and links successively and pivotally connected together, the combination with a pair of adjacent links having bores through 'the Vadjacent ends and a straddle type lug having sideplates at opposite Vsides of the links and lapping the adjacent ends thereof and having aligned bores for registering with the link bores, of a `pin for `each set of aligned bores, and independent locking means for each pin preventing axial withdrawal thereof comprising a toothed disc `seatable in a counterbore coaxial with the valigned bores and'in one of the confronting faces of the `link end and one of the lug side plates, the latter having therethrough a radially `offset 'opening for exposing a disc tooth, the disc having a-pin receivable opening therein and an inwardly ldirected locking portion, the pin having a locking portion receivable arcuate groove in its periphery and coplanar with the counterbore when the pin is properly seated, the disc being normally concealed in the counterbore and exposed only at the plate hole for disc rotation to effect axial displacement locking of the pin, the tooth then exposed by the hole being bendable angularly of the plane of the disc to effect locking of the disc against casual rotation.

2. A chain structure as defined by claim l wherein the counterbore is formed in the side plate.

3. A chain structure as dened by claim 1 wherein the pin groove is peripheral and the pin is complementarily formed at one end and from that end to the groove to permit axial passage of the locking .portion of the disc to the groove.

4. A chain structure as defined by claim 1 wherein the counterbore and bendable tooth end seating'opening are in the same member.

5. A chain structure as dened by claim 1 wherein the pin groove is peripheral and the pin is complementarily formed at one end and from that end to the groove to permit axial passage of the locking portion of the disc to the groove, the counterbore being formed in the side plate.

6, l A chain structure as defined by claim 1 wherein the pin groove is peripheral and the pin is complementarily formed at Ione end and from that end vto the groove to permit axial rpassage of the locking portion of the disc to the groove, the counterbore andbendable tooth and seating opening being in the same member.

7. A chain structure as defined by claim 1 wherein the pin groove is peripheral, the counterbore is formed in a side plate, the pin receiving bore thereof having spaced, nat faces, the pin end seatable inthe last mentioned bore having similarly spaced vfiat faces, extending inwardly at least to the groove, the disc having similarly spaced flat faces and rotatable on the pin for groove seating of the face providing portions.

8. A chain structure as defined by claim 1 vwherein the pin groove is peripheral, the counterbore is formed in a side plate, the pin receiving bore thereof having spaced, flat faces, the pin end seatable in the last 4mentioned bore `having similarly spaced flat faces, extending inwardly at least to the groove, the disc having similarly spaced fiat faces and rotatable on the pin for groove seating of the face providing portions, the spaced fiat faces in each instance comprising a pair of faces parallel to eachother.

9. A chain structure as `defined by claim 1 wherein the pin groove is peripheral yand the pin end adjacent thereto includes a pair of spaced and parallel flat faces extending inwardly at 'least to thegroove, the disc Vpin receiving opening having similarly spaced flat faces defining groove seating locking portions.

CHARLES J. FORBES.

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this vpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,464,267 Harrison Aug. 7, 1923 1,660,354 Phelps Feb. 28, 1928 

